To shame what is strong, God chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom.

Short Responsory

I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

– I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

‘Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.’

– I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

He who sent me is with me, and he has not left me to myself, for I always do what pleases him.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

He who sent me is with me, and he has not left me to myself, for I always do what pleases him.

Prayers and intercessions

Let us pray earnestly to Christ the Lord. He tells us to watch and pray that we may not fall into temptation.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you promised to be with those who are gathered in your name;

keep us united with you as we pray to the Father in the Holy Spirit.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Cleanse your Church from every stain of sin;

make her alive with hope and the power of the Spirit.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Help us to care for our neighbour and show your love for men;

through us let the light of your salvation shine in the world.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Let your peace spread to the ends of the earth;

let men see in every place the signs of your presence.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Bring the dead to everlasting happiness;

let glory and immortal life be theirs.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

May your people, Lord,

persevere in obedience to your will,

so that through this obedience

your Church in our time

may grow in grace and increase in numbers.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

The psalms and canticles here are our own translation. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons. The Universalis apps, programs and downloads do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.